Assistance and Support Resources

General Information

Business Center: U.S. business opportunities overseas, doing business with the State Department, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, and more.

Bureaus and Offices: alphabetical listing of bureaus and offices.

Information Directory: telephone listings, foreign service post information, references, regulations, and supplemental information.

International Resources and Assistance

The Office of Commercial and Business Affairs (CBA) is a good initial point of contact for firms seeking State Department assistance and support. This office works directly with American companies to help them tap the worldwide resources of the Department. Officers at U.S. embassies around the world work to create a level playing field for American businesses. These officers often are the eyes, ears, and in-country negotiators for U.S. business interests. As experts on host-country markets and business practices, they identify opportunities for American firms and advocate on their behalf. The State Department:

Helps ensure that American farmers, business people, and workers have a level playing field on which to compete for foreign investment and trade:

Negotiates market-opening trade agreements that expand opportunities for the sale of American products and services abroad;

Promotes and licenses exports that contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy;

Protects American intellectual property rights; and

Helps other countries develop strong free-market economies and become better trading partners for the United States.

Trade Policy and Programs Division. Thriving international commerce has long served U.S. interests by promoting U.S. prosperity and job-creation and promoting peaceful foreign relations. U.S. trade policy is based on two primary goals:

To expand access for American exporters to overseas markets, and

To ensure that commercial competitors and partners abroad observe fair trade practices.

Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Textile Trade Affairs

Bilaterial Trade Affairs

Multilateral Trade Affairs

Contacts

Intellectual Property and Competition Policy Division. The Intellectual Property and Competition Policy (IPC) division within the Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs develops and implements policies to promote effective intellectual property rights (IPR) protection worldwide in close cooperation with other U.S. agencies and the private sector. The Intellectual Property and Competition Policy (IPC) division within the Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs develops and implements policies to promote effective intellectual property rights (IPR) protection worldwide in close cooperation with other U.S. agencies and the private sector.

Links

International Communication and Information Policy (CIP) group advocates internationally policies for expanded access to information and communication technologies (ICT), improved efficiency in the worldwide ICT and telecommunications market through increased reliance on free-market forces, and fair opportunities for U.S. companies to participate in this important sector around the globe.

Contacts

The U.S. International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) advises the Department of State in the preparation of U.S. positions for meetings of international treaty organizations, develops and coordinates proposed contributions to international meetings as U.S. contributions, and advised the Department on other matters to be undertaken by the U.S. at these international meetings. The international meetings addressed by the ITAC are those of the International Telecommunication Union, the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States, the Organization of Economic Coorporation and Development IOECD) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Members of the ITAC are drawn from the government, network operators, service providers, and manufacturers involved in the telecommunications sector.

National Participation

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

Domestic Resources and Assistance

Competition in Contracting. It is the Department of State's policy to maximize competition in contracting under applicable procurement regulations (Federal Acquisition Regulations, etc). Advertising and competition are mandated by these regulations. Any questions regarding the competition in contracting practices of the Department should be directed to:

Ms. Jan Visintainer
Departmental Competition Advocate
U.S. Department of State
A/OPE/CA, Room 603, SA-6, Washington, DC 20522-0602
Telephone: (703) 516-1693

Information Resource Management (IRM) provides the information technology and services the Department needs to successfully carry out is foreign policy mission. IRM supports long-standing telegram, telephone, mainframe computer and other established information systems. Outreach - Quarterly Information Technology Expos. Contact: Ms. Evelyn Washington (202) 735-7496 - vendor liason.

Vendor Liasion

Publications

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization ensures that all legislatively specific categories of small businesses in our prime contracts and subcontracts are effectively utilized to the maximum extent possible. Outreach activities include yearly subcontracting workshop/networking session, participation in small business procurement fairs, conferences, etc, sponsores small business fairs for veterans, small businesses, Native American (planning stage), mentor-protegee (pending public comment).

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization/Minority Resource Center is the initial point of contact for U.S. small businesses and offers in-depth information about USAID issues. The office coordinates and manages programs which are designed to ensure increased competitiveness and access to Agency procurement opportunities.

Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Minority Resource Center

Overseas Building Operations (OBO) directs the worldwide overseas buildings program for the Department of State and the U.S. Government community serving abroad under the authority of the Chiefs of Mission. Along with the input and support of other State Department bureaus, foreign affairs, agencies, and Congress, OBO sets worldwide priorities for the design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, use, and sale of real properties and the use of sales proceeds.

Contractor Information

General Information

Office of the Procurement Executive (OPE) provides overall leadership of the procurement and grants functions for the Department. OPE issues procurement and grants policy, provides quality assurance and statistical reporting, and appoints contracting officers and grant officers.

Business Opportunities

Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) provides a full range of professional contract management services to domestic and overseas Department operations. These services include acquisition planning, contract negotiations, cost and price analysis, and contract administration to customers worldwide. The office provides acquisition training assistance to the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. This includes providing acquisition expertise to develop policies, standards, and procedures for the implementation of worldwide contracting and business agreement activities. AQM manages about two billion dollars a year in acquisitions and grants, including construction projects in conjunction with the Overseas Buildings Operations; interagency agreements; information technology; international relations support; grants; and regional and functional bureaus' requirements. Contact: Elsa K. Hobart (703) 875-4976.

Security Assistance

Bureau of Diplomatic Security investigates passport and visa fraud, conducts personnel security investigations, and issues security clearances.

Security Clearances

Contacts

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Office of Information Resources Management Programs and Services (IPS) is the primary point of contact for anyone seeking access to Department records. This office is responsible for ensuring the Department is in compliance with a wide range of statutory and administrative requirements including the Federal Records Act, FOIA, EFOIA, the Privacy Act, Executive Order 12958, and Ethics in Government.

Information Access Program

How To Request Information

FAQs

Regulations

Import/Export

Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) controls the export and temporary import of defense articles and defense services covered by the United States Munitions List (USML). This office has among its primary missions: taking final action on license applications for defense trade exports and handling matters related to defense trade compliance, enforcement, and reporting.

Applying for an Import/Export License

Contact Information

D-Trade (Electronic Defense Trade Licensing System)

FAQs

Additional Information

Other Resources: links to other sites that can assist small businesses.

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